Why was not just leaving the shire an option?

[Ananda]

I am listening to the audiobook* of this at night since I have troubles sleeping and I came across something I skipped over before. When Gandalf is trying to get Frodo to make plans to leave the Shire, Frodo starts to try to slow the process down by saying he needs time and can't just disappear. Gandalf replies and says something like, 'Of course you mustn't just disappear!'

Why not? No one in the Shire knows anything anyway. They can't do more than say he's gone. Any subterfuge would be quickly seen through (as in the book) and they wasted months in the planning phase when they could have just grabbed a coat and gone.

*The performance in this audiobook is the best I've ever heard. The reader, Rob Inglis, actually sings all the sings in the book in the voice of the character! I never appreciated some of the songs till I heard them sung. The scene where Bilbo doesn't want to part with the ring was brilliantly done, too.

[wayfriend]

It seems to me that if he "just disappeared", someone might go looking for him, try to track him down. That wouldn't be good. Also, a disappearance would create gossip that would reach the ears of anyone watching the Shire, put them on alert.

[Orlion]

It seems to me that if he "just disappeared", someone might go looking for him, try to track him down. That wouldn't be good. Also, a disappearance would create gossip that would reach the ears of anyone watching the Shire, put them on alert.

Particularly since Bilbo had just quite literally disappeared.

[Ananda]

I get all that, but in practical terms, what is the difference? He will disappear at some point anyway. Why was it important to spend so much time to give the illusion of not disappearing when the time it would take to realise he was gone would be less than the months it took to plan?

I just thought maybe it was just something the author wrote and one of those things to take at face value.

Another thing I had noticed:
When Tom Bombadil escorts the hobbits to the road, Aragorn is there spying on them. How does Tom not notice? Aragorn is close enough to listen to them speak, so he's not spying from much distance. I thought maybe it is because he stands outside of Tom's territory, but that limit is only self imposed, not a real one.

Also:
The meals that are served by Goldberry seem to all be vegetarian. And, thinking back, I never see meat mentioned at any of the points where the characters eat with elves.

[Ananda]

I really liked Bilbo's song at the end of the chapter before they left Rivendale. Was really sad when heard sung. I even skipped back and gave it a second listen.

[lucimay]

I get all that, but in practical terms, what is the difference? He will disappear at some point anyway. Why was it important to spend so much time to give the illusion of not disappearing when the time it would take to realise he was gone would be less than the months it took to plan?
I just thought maybe it was just something the author wrote and one of those things to take at face value.

it's the way hobbitses do things, partly, I think. where was Gandalf going btwn the time they made the plans and the time he would meet them in Bree. was he still tracking down ring lore or am I confused on the timeline. I thought he had wizardly shit to do and thought they had some time before the shit hit the fan.

Another thing I had noticed:
When Tom Bombadil escorts the hobbits to the road, Aragorn is there spying on them. How does Tom not notice? Aragorn is close enough to listen to them speak, so he's not spying from much distance. I thought maybe it is because he stands outside of Tom's territory, but that limit is only self imposed, not a real one.

who says tom didn't notice?

a) if he didn't you should remember that Aragorn is a Ranger, practiced at not being noticed and

b) if he did notice I'm gonna take it for granted that he knew well enough to not blow Aragorn's cover

so either way there's no need for me as a reader to worry over Tolkien's choice not to reveal whether tom knew Aragorn was there or not.

Also:
The meals that are served by Goldberry seem to all be vegetarian. And, thinking back, I never see meat mentioned at any of the points where the characters eat with elves.

I never noticed that! but I do distinctly remember a few hobbits on a spit over a troll fire! LOL!! (one of my favorite scenes since the first time I read the books lo these many bygone years ago!)

[Zarathustra]

Gandalf was definitely trying to make sure Frodo kept a low profile and didn't attract attention. Also, he had things to do first (which should have been explained by now if you've read the Rivendell chapters ... i.e. Saruman), and it comforted him to think that Frodo was still safe in the Shire until he was ready to meet him at Bree. This delay, however, turned out nearly disastrous, as the Black Riders had nearly caught Frodo in the Shire. So perhaps it's in the story to show that Gandalf isn't omnipotent, and even his best judgment can go awry. I also think that Tolkien wasn't ready to leave the Shire himself. He wanted to walk through that country before beginning the epic journey. It also adds a bit of darkness to see Frodo chased in his own land. The delay provides for that bit of tension.